Kevin Putala was born in North Tonawanda, NY, and raised in Tonawanda, a rival city along the Niagara River, between Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
At age eleven, Kevin saw the pilot movie for the television series “Kung Fu” and fell in love with traditional martial arts and the sport of boxing. He would read every book he could find in the Erie County library system, and practice what he learned in his parent’s basement and garage.
After graduating in 1984, Kevin dedicated the next 8 years to serving the country in the US Army as a Military Police Officer and Investigator. In 1985, he was stationed in South Korea, earning his first black belt in the art of Traditional Tang Soo Do, which would begin a lifelong journey of studying and teaching martial arts.
Kevin also became a fan of old-school bodybuilding, at age eleven, after coming across the book Pumping Iron on one of his many trips to the library. While he would work out throughout his life, even training with some amateur bodybuilders, martial arts always came first.
Eventually, he would get his personal trainer certification through the I.S.S.A. (International Sports Sciences Association) working as a trainer at the Buffalo Athletic Club in Buffalo, NY.
In 2023, at the age of 58, the years of hard training caught up, and Kevin would undergo two total knee replacements, which brought his martial arts training to an end.
Today, the roles have reversed, and body-RE-building has become Kevin’s priority as he works to obtain optimal health, fitness, and strength.
Kevin resides in Tampa, FL with his amazing wife Iris. When not working his full-time job as a Security Professional, writing, or working out, he can be found spending time with family and relaxing on Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches.